Download National Ocean Issues: A Washington, DC Perspective (Marks, Rick E.)

National Ocean Issues:
A Washington, DC Perspective
Rick E. Marks
Hoffman, Silver, Gilman & Blasco
PSMFC 2010
PSMFC Annual Meeting 2010
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Protected Species
National Ocean Policy
National Marine Sanctuary Act
EPA NPDES Vessel Permits – are we done yet?
Magnuson-Stevens Act Reform – is it alive yet?
NOAA Catch Share Policy – is it soup yet?
Healthcare Reform…what’s up with 2014?
PSMFC “Grab Bag”
Protected Species News #1
Steller Sea Lion
* 5-year review of Eastern DPS under construction (6/10)
* New ESA BiOp published (8/2/10)
- Jeopardy found for Western DPS in western/central
Aleutians
- RPAs limited to Areas 541, 542 and 543
- Targets P-cod/Atka mackerel fisheries
- NOAA can implement RPAs via NPFMC or Emergency
action; NPFMC BiOp review (8/17/10)
Protected Species News #2
• Loggerhead Turtle
• Petitions to ESA list N
Pacific & NW Atlantic DPS
• Leatherback Turtle
• Petition to revise critical
• Final determinations in
early 2011 (comment
period extended to 9/10)
• NRC Report on sea turtle
status (7/10)
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habitat; add 70,000 sq
nm off CA/OR/WA under
consideration (1/10)
Petition for CH off Puerto
Rico denied; lack of
substantial scientific
information (7/10)
Protected Species News #3
• So. Resident Killer Whales
– Endangered in 2006 (<100 individuals)
– 2008 study points to boat traffic
– Regulatory process ongoing to reduce vessel contact in Puget
Sound; FR expected fall 2010
• AT1 Killer Whales
– DPS “depleted” in 2004 (no calves since 1984)
– Cause of mortality remains unknown
– Monitoring to determine best course of action
Protected Species News #4
• Southern Sea Otter (a.k.a. CA Sea Otter)
– Final EIS expected in 2010
– USFWS sued over EIS; Agency next steps?
– 2010 survey (unofficial results) = 2,719;
3yr avg=2,711; ESA delist=3,090; MMPA
depleted=8,400; K=16,000;
– Pup count lowest in recent years (El Nino)
– Population downturn (shark predation & other
causes)
Protected Species News #5
No. Sea Otter (a.k.a. SW Alaska DPS)
- ESA threatened status 2005
- Final Critical Habitat designation 10/1/09
- Stock recovery varies by area (next survey
2011)
- Recovery Team Draft Plan submitted 4/10
under review; avail for public comment in
2010
Protected Species News #6
• Cook Inlet Beluga Whale
ESA endangered listing & conservation plan final 10/08
Critical habitat FR expected 12/10
• Seals
Petition to ESA list Ribbon rejected 12/08
Spotted Southern DPS listing proposed 10/09
Actions pending for 2 other species
• Pacific Walrus
Petition to ESA list filed & status under review
Finding expected 9/10
• Polar Bear
ESA listed as threatened 5/08
Critical habitat proposed 10/09; FR in 2011?
National Ocean Policy Task Force
• President Obama: “Need to act within a unifying framework
under a clear national policy, including a comprehensive,
ecosystem-based framework for the long-term conservation and use
of our resources.” Source: Presidential Memo 6/12/09
• Final Task Force Recommendations (7/19/10)
• Executive Order adopting recommendations &
directing agencies to implement under National
Ocean Council (NOC) guidance (7/19/10)
• NOAA constituent briefings (8/10)
National Ocean Policy Task Force
• TF composed of 24 senior-level officials;
chaired by CEQ
• Website portal; 38 roundtable discussions;
6 regional public meetings; 5,000+ public
comments; NOAA constituent briefings
• Federal/State/foreign policies & models;
past/pending legislation (“BOB”); two
earlier Ocean Commissions’ Reports
Task Force Recommendations
• First ever National Ocean Policy
• Strengthened/Coordinated Policy & Governance
Structure
• Implementation of 9 national priority objectives
• Framework for coastal/marine spatial planning
• Detailed 5-year plan (incl. 9 Regional Planning
Bodies (RPBs) w/ State & constituent reps)
Task Force Recommendations
• Policy sets forth guiding principles for
coordinated management decisions & actions
• NOC coordinates Federal efforts; development of
strategic action plans…
• National Priority Objectives: adopt ecosystembased mgmt; implement CMSP; information;
coordination; climate change adaptation;
ecosystem protection; water quality; Arctic
stewardship; strengthen mapping/infrastructure
Task Force Recommendations
• NOC chaired by CEQ & OSTP
• 5-member Steering Committee
• Committees: Ocean Resource
Management; Ocean Science &
Technology; Governance Coordinating;
Ocean Research & Resources
• Science/Consensus/’Bottom-up” process
National Marine Sanctuary Act
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Last reauthorized in 2000
13 sanctuaries + NW HI Islands National Monument
H.R. 6537 introduced in 2008 by Rep. Bordallo (D-GU)
2 hearings on H.R. 6537 in 2008
New “Discussion Draft”; Rep. Capps (D-CA) (4/10)
3 constituent “listening sessions”
Discussion Draft being “reworked” ; Final version (9/10)
Reauthorization a key 2-yr ENGO objective
What can we expect during 2011-2012?
National Marine Sanctuary Act
Reauthorization
• Mission: protect, conserve, preserve,
restore and recover biodiversity, ecological
integrity and cultural legacy…
• Long term protection of living/non-living
resources within a national “System”
• Protect, restore and recover habitat and
populations and provide for ecosystem
resiliency
National Marine Sanctuary Act
Reauthorization
Key Provisions..
• “Ecosystem Management”
• 2-yr inventory/candidate
site list (incl. States)
• Designation prohibition
repealed; “System”
expansion goal added
• Full range of habitats,
heritage resources,
MPA,HAPC, unique areas
• Changing penalties
Key Provisions…
• Sec of Commerce primary
authority for “System”
• Fishery mgmt process
• Bottom trawling ban
• Water-Dependent
Recreational Use permits
• Marine Ecosystem Review
Board (incl. States)
• Interagency Cooperation
NPDES Vessel Discharge Permits
• 9th Circuit Court invalidates 35-yr exemption ’07
• 1st Congressional intervention (7/08) results in
exemption for 13M pleasure boats & 2-yr
exemption for commercial & charter fishing
boats, and commercial vessels <79ft
• 2nd intervention (7/10) results in 3-yr permit
moratorium (thru 12/2013) for all
commercial/charter fishing boats, and
commercial vessels <79ft; EPA study continues
Magnuson-Stevens Act Reform?
• February 2010 “MARCH ON WASHINGTON” by approx
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3,000 commercial/sport fishermen pushing MSA reform
and opposing catch shares
Overfishing/Mixed Stock/Science Reforms
- S. 3594 (Sen. Nelson, D-FL)
FMP 10-year rebuilding flexibility
- S. 1255 (Sen. Schumer, D-NY)
- H.R. 1584 (Rep. Frank Pallone)
Post-reauthorization LAPPs (WC groundfish; MA tilefish;
GOMEX snapper/grouper; Sectors in New England)
Magnuson-Stevens Act Reform?
• Some NOAA fishing constituencies pushing for
MSA reform; (Sen. Snowe/Rep. Frank letter to
NOAA requesting MSA NRC Study; 2/10)
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on
Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife MSA
Oversight hearing (10/09)
• House & Senate OLE hearings (3/10) & House
catch share hearing (3/10)
Magnuson-Stevens Act Reform?
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee
on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife
“MSA” hearing (7/10)
- H.R. 5180 Rep. Shea-Porter (D-NH)
- H.R. 4914 Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)
- H.R. 3910 Rep. Larsen (D-WA)
• No MSA reauthorization in 2010; outlook
uncertain for 112th Congress
NOAA Catch Shares Task Force
• NOAA forms TF in June 2009
• Recommendations = guidance
• “Catch Shares” broadly defined
• Ecosystem-based approach
• Draft Policy December 2009
• Comment period closed 4/10
• Final Policy expected late 2010?
Healthcare Reform & 2014
• Beginning in 2014 all individuals will be required to have
health insurance for themselves and their dependents
• Monthly penalty for non-compliance
• Qualified individuals will receive subsidies to pay for
premiums
• Firms employing 1099/independent contract workers /PT & seasonal employees will not be responsible for
providing coverage for these individuals/dependents
PSMFC “Grab Bag” #1
• Recovery Plans for Sei (7/10)
• Petition to list Puget Sound
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& Fin Whales (8/10)
ENGOs file suit to expand
North Atlantic Right Whale
critical habitat (5/10)
Pacific Smelt DPS (coastal No.
CA to British Columbia) ESA
listing proposed (3/10)
Rep. Capps’ H.R.4363 the
“National Sustainable Offshore
Aquaculture Act of 2009”
(12/09)
Sen. Merkley’s S.3025 the
“Columbia River Restoration
Act of 2010” (2/10)
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Coho rejected (7/10)
Petition to list Coho south of
San Fran Bay review (4/10)
Humpback whale 5-yr ESA
status review
Recovery Plan for So. DPS of
Green Sturgeon
Commerce IG Reports on
NOAA OLE activities & Asset
Forfeiture Fund
US/EU sign IUU cooperative
agreement (11/09)
PSMFC “Grab Bag” #2
• NOAA Nat’l Enforcement
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Summit with 66 invited
attendees (8/3/10)
“New England” files anti-catch
share lawsuit (5/10)
Rep. Baird introduces H.R.3650
the “National Harmful Algal
Bloom and Hypoxia Act (3/10)
EPA Memorandum on ocean
acidification expected (11/10)
A federal appeals court rules
that 5 of the largest electric
utilities can stand trial for
damage from greenhouse gas
emissions (9/09)
• Sen. Reid (D-NV) introduces
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S.3063 authorizing $400M for
“The Invasive Species
Emergency Response Fund
Act” (6/10)
EPA to determine if seafood
waste disposal practices in
Alaska should be changed
(4/10)
NOAA awards contract for new
fisheries survey vessel for
West Coast (4/10)
Sam Waterston, Sigourney
Weaver & Ted Danson testify
on various ocean issues